Apparatus for cleaning matrices and magazines



`H. G. GUIRE. ET AL APPARATUS FOR CLEANING MATRICES AND MAGAZINES March 29, 1938.

Filed Aug. 14, 1934 Patented Mar. 29, 1938 PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS Fon CLEANING,` MATRICES ANDl MAGAZINES* Henry G. Guire, Trenton,

fonte, deceased, late of Trenton,

Chalfonte, administrator,

Charles S. N. J., assignors, by

and Albin L. Chal- N. J., by Trenton, mesne assignments, to

National Printing Appliance Corporation', New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York ApplicationAugust 14, 1934, Serial No. 739,756

6 Claims.

This invention relates to line-casting machines, such Aas those of composing rooms, in rwhich matrices are movably guided in channels of matrix magazines, and has particular reference to improved cleaning methods and apparatus therefor.

Sincethe magazines are disposed in an inclined operative position, so that the matrices may move -gravitationally from the topi orA high open ends, along the channels, for controllable discharge or removal'fr'om thelower open ends thereof, it is necessary not only to maintain these channels, but also the matrices, in clean condition, in order to insure free operation.

Movement of the matrices normally becomes restricted, or clogged, because the frictionally engaging surfaces tend under ordinary working co-nditions to collect particles of dust, oil, graphite, or other gummy substances; and priory to this invention it has been the practice to remove the matrices from the magazine for cleaning purposes. Y

\ Thematerials usedfor cleaning, subsequent to removal of the matrices, have been numerous, and among these were brushes, the bristles of which, apart from coincident labor and length of time required, could not reach all of the parts to be cleaned. Also, removal of individual parts necessarily involved separate replacement or assembly, which further used considerable time.

` Now, one of the objects of our invention, as established, is to clean the matrices in their magazines without removal therefrom, and another object, connected with the foregoing, and with a View to economy-of labor, and also of material, is to utilize some of the parts for cleaning others. Y

The magazines have, opposite the discharge end, a receiving or entrance end for the matrices, so that the latter may be spaced as from the receiving end, and between these ends in longitudinal or fore-and-aft directions, are disposed the channels for controlling the said matrices, as is well known by thoseV skilled in the art. A 'further detailed description of these features is therefore not necessary. l I

A feature of our invention is a magazine holder or frame, and since the matrices, as indicated, have movement relative the magazine. and its grooves, said holder, which is constructed for quickinsertion of the magazine, grips the latter and holds it with a resilientufit.

Another feature of the invention is a tank or liquid container which includes aV body having :l opposed closed and open ends .The frame withV its magazine, the latter containing the matrices, and both to be cleaned, are inserted through the open end of the container, and then a rtight cover is swngably movable into position for removably sealingthe otherwise open end of the tank, `which o also contains a suitable amount of cleansing liquid.

The tank with its contents are movable, there being a `support ory stand in which the device is journalled, and this movement may be rotary, or reciprocal, as between slightly lowered and elevated positions, so thatin either case the matrices are moved between the ends of the magazine, and the liquid, which may be of any desired temperature, is at the same time moved to complete the cleaning or washing operation.

Movement or inclination of the container between different positions also facilitates insertion and removal of the frame and magazine, which are constructed of appropriate metal. The device is suitable for use in small shops or houses, as` well as by large establishments, this being to secure `a further object of the invention.

With the above indicated objects in View, and others which will hereinafter appear, the essen-` tial features of the present construction are herein clearly described and fully illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal central sectional View of the tank with its magazine holder;

Fig. 2 is a lateral elevational View thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1; Y

Fig. 4 is a lateral elevational View of a magazine holder' per se;

Fig. 5 is a reduced end View of a support in which the complete deviceis shown in lateral elevation;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail View of a portion of the section shown in Fig. l, and Fig. 7 illustrates a matrix.

Similar characters of reference are applied to corresponding parts throughout the several views. The magazine and matrix cleaning device includes a metal tank, container or housing the opposite front and rear walls lll, ll of which, as herein illustrated, are integral with the interposed lateral walls i3 and i4. These latter walls, which are reinforced by a rib I5, extend across one end I6, Ill of the device to close the housing thereat.

At the opposite or open end of the housing, the edge or terminal I8 of the cooperating wallsY is formed with an endlesslgroove I9, as shown in Figs. l and, and in this groove is positioned a resilient or rubber gasket 20, against which a removable cover 2|, having a reinforcing rib 22, ts in fluid-tight condition.

Adjacent the open end of the container the lateral walls are provided with integral ears 23, 24, which are spaced from the body of the device, and in these spaces, mounted for pivotal or swinging movement on pins 25, 26, are the terminals of legs 21, 28 of a U-shaped frame, which also includes a bight portion 29. Said frame is also provided with a reinforcing rib 30.

At the center of the swingable U-shaped frame is a boss 3|, in which is a threaded aperture 32, and in the center of the cover 2| is a recessed boss 33. Said cover, by reason of terminal hands 34, 35, slidably embraces the legs 21, 28, so that the structure is movable between the closed position shown in Fig. 1 and the dotted line or open position shown in Fig. 2.

In the aperture 32 is mounted a threaded shank 36, which has at one end thereof and rigid therewith a hand wheel 31, and at its opposite end an expansion 38. This expansiomheld in the recess of the boss 33 by a disk 39, is freely movable in said recess, so that on turning the hand wheel 31 the cover 2| is either movable inwardly for sealing engagement with the gasket 20, or outwardly to allow of the aforesaid swinging or opening movement. The disk 39 is metallically held on the boss 33.

A magazine 4D, with its matrices, is shown in the present instance as including, on opposed inclined lateral walls, 4|, 42, a front wall which includes, between opposite ends 43, 45, transversely disposed cooperating elements, as 46, 41. In the fore-and-aft grooves of the magazine, not shown in the drawing, but well understood by those skilled in the art, the matrices, as 1, are slidably movable, there being lugs 8, 9 on each matrix for engaging in said grooves.

A holder for the magazine 46 includes a pair of parallel bars. 48, 49, which extend from and are, as at present shown, integral with a right angularly disposed end plate 50, which partly covers the end 45. Opposite said bars and cooperating therewith is a pair of bars 52, which are held together at right angularly disposed extensions 53, 54 by a cross bar 55.

Like ears 56 of the plate 5D and of the terminals of the bars 5|, 52 carry a hinge pin or rod 51; and cooperating ears, as 58, of the bars 48, 49 and extensions 53, 54, carry a removable rod 59. On the inner faces of these bars are held opposed springs, each alike and numbered 6D (seeFigs. 2 4), so the magazine 40 is yieldably held therebetween. On removal of the rod 59 the magazine holder is swingably operable.

The center 6| of the cross bar 53 is formed as a gripping portion, so that the holder with its magazine 4|) may be easily handled or carried; and in order to adjust the magazine 40, or move it tightly against the end 56, the extensions 53, 54 have threadedly mounted therein thumb screws 62, 63. Said screws terminally engage a plate or partial closure 43', which is seated on the edge of the magazine at its end 43. The handle portion 6| also serves as a seat for the cover 2|, so that the holder with its magazine are resiliently sup-ported in the housing by a coil spring 64, which finds terminal seats at 65 and 66 on the plate 5i) and end I6, |1.

Liquid may be removed from or inserted in the container by the open end |8, but an end drain cock 61, controllable by a Valve having a hand wheel 68, is provided. This drain cock is threadedly inserted in the housing at 69.

The liquid container is formed with opposed bosses 10, 1| which are bored to frictionally or metallically receive trunnions 12, 13; and in order to movably support the container, said trunnions are journalled in like standards, one of which is. shown and numbered 14 in Fig. 5, of a frame 15, which may be movable, as by base wheels or castors, not shown.

Keyed 'to the trunnion 13 is a handle 16, and since both trunnions are rigid with the container the latter is swingable or revolvable by said handle. But other means, such as a motor, not shown, may be used in connection with the trunnion for moving the same.

The container is not completely filled with the cleansing fluid, so that on operating the handle 16 to move the container through a horizontal position, as between the full line position of Fig. 5 and the position represented by the line a, a, the fluid is moved longitudinally or in fore-and-aft directions to clean the matrices in the magazine, and also the walls and channels of said magazine, as already indicated. When the container is revolved, the cleaning operation, at different times during each revolution, is the same as when 0scilated between inclined positions.

After the co-ntainer with its handle 16 areA originally set up in the frame 15, removal therefrom is not usually necessary. When a heated cleansing fluid is used, the frame and magazine, with its matricestend to dry quickly after removal from the container. Some fluids evaporate quickly from the mechanism, after removal from the container, at ordinary temperatures, and in other cases, heating or drying means, not shown, may be provided for the structure, on being removed from the container.

When, after cleaning a magazine, the liquid is removed by way of the drain cock 61, the container may be conveniently tilted, as to the position a, a; the U-shaped frame may be swung to the dotted line position of Fig. 2, and the magazine with its holder removed by the handle 6|.

As the hereinbefore described construction Iadmits of considerable modification without departing from the invention, the particular arrangements shown should be taken as illustrative, and Vnot in a limiting sense; therefore, the scope of protection contemplated is to be taken solely from the appended claims, interpreted as broadly as is consistent with the prior art.

We claim:

1. A holder comprising two pairs of spaced parallel holder bars; an inner end plate integral with one pair of said bars; means pivotally mounting the other pair on said end plate at the inner end of the bars; an outer end member integral With the pivoted bars at the other end from said plate; means releasably holding the outer ends of the other bars; opposed springs on the inner faces of said bars adapted to yieldably receive a matrix magazine therebetween; and means on said outer end member for adjusting the magazine against the en-d plate.

2. A magazine holder for use with a container having open and closed ends and a cover plate for engaging said open end, said closed end having a seat axial of the container; said holder being elongated and having an inner end plate having a seat coaxial with said rst named seat and adapted to receive a coil spring adapted to be compressed between said seats; an outer end member disposable at said open end of said container, said outer end member being provided with a handle portion adapted to be engaged by said cover plate for pressing the end plate against said coil spring as the cover plate is closed.

3. In combination, a container having open and closed ends; a cover plate engaging said open end; said closed end having a closable drain opening surrounded by a seat; an elongated holder disposed longitudinally within the container against the opposite container walls and adapted to receive a matrix magazine therebetween; an inner end plate integral with said holder and having a seat coaxial with said first named seat; a coil spring compressed between said seats; an outer yend member integral with the holder at said open end of said container, said outer end member being provided with a handle portion adapted to be engaged by said cover plate for pressing the end plate against said coil springs as the cover plate is closed.

4. A holder comprising a side member having a bottom end portion for engaging one end of a matrix magazine, an opposite side member having a top end portion for engaging the opposite end of the magazine, hinge means connecting said bottom portion and the second mentioned member, spring means carried by said members for resiliently engaging the opposite sides of the magazine, and means releasably holding said top end portion and the ilrst mentioned member together.

5. 'I'he combination of a liquid containing tank having an adjustable cover, av matrix magazine holder disposed in the tank and including side members, said members having spring fingers for resiliently engaging opposite sides of a magazine, said holder including top and bottom members, spring means disposed between the bottom of the tank and said bottom member, and means for adjusting said cover so as to urge the latter against said top member, whereby to tension the holder against said spring means.

6. In combination, an elongate revolvable tank for containing cleansing liquid for a matrix magazine, there being means pivotally supporting'the tank for revolution about a transverse axis, said tank comprising a bottom and having a top sealing closure, a. magazine holder disposed within the tank and having spring ngers for engaging opposite side of the magazine, and spring means resiliently supporting said holder longitudinally of the tank.

HENRY G. GUIRE. CHARLES S. CHALF'ONTE, Administrator for the Estate of Albin L. Chalfonte, Deceased. 

